Wine Cellar Temperature
The ideal temperature for storing wine is between 55?F and 58?F (13?C?15?C). The most important thing is that the temperature
remains constant.
The degree and the
speed of the temperature change are critical. A gradual change of a
few degrees between summer and winter won’t matter. The same level of change
each day will harm your wines irreparably by ageing them too rapidly.
If your wines are exposed to wide ranging temperature fluctuations you’ll notice damage straight away from
the sticky deposit that often forms around the capsule. Over time
the continual expansion and contraction of the wine will cause damage to the cork. It’s like having the cork pulled in and out
again every day. When this happens, minute quantities of wine may be
pushed out along the edge of the cork (between the cork and the
bottle neck) allowing air to seep back in. Once the air is in
contact with your wine the irreversible process of oxidation begins
and your wine is ruined.
At 55? to 58?F the wine
will age properly, enabling it to fully develop. Higher temperatures
will age wine more rapidly and cooler temperatures will slow down
the ageing process. Irreversible damage will be done if your wine is
kept at a temperature above 82?F for even a month.
At 55?F wines will age
slowly and develop great complexity and you will never have to worry
about them.
For more information on storing wine and building a wine cellarvisit
